MANSFIELD, Ohio — Christmas has passed, and so has the time to leave rotting Christmas trees in living rooms. Some city street departments offer curbside pick-ups for your trees, some don’t. Here’s the breakdown.

Mansfield

According to Mansfield’s Street Department, if you live within the city limits, trees must be dropped off at their service garage at 480 Park Avenue East.

Ontario

Ontario does offer a curbside Christmas tree pick-up service. The service started on Dec. 28 and ends Jan. 15.

“We make our rounds through the city maybe two or three times a week,” Safety Service Director Jeff Wilson said. “They just need to pull them to the curb and everything has to be removed (from the tree) obviously,” he added.

Wilson said the tree pick-up program is one of the three services Ontario provides. In the fall, they pick up leaves and in the spring, yard debris like fallen tree branches.

Bellville

“If we see one, we grab it,” Superintendent Ryan Wine said.

Wine said Bellville residents can leave their Christmas trees at their curbs through the end of January for pick-up.

Butler

Although no program exists for Butler residents, office administrator Stephanie Crow said the street department workers will pick up the trees.

“Right now they’re busy with snow (ploughing) but they’ll get to them. Sometimes residents get a little antsy, but they’ll get to them,” she said.

Richland County

Shelby and Lexington representatives were unavailable for comment Tuesday. However, if you live within Richland County and are unaware of any curbside program, you can leave your trees at a number of drop-off locations.

Director of Richland County Solid Waste Ken Bender said county residents can drop off their trees at any SCRAP trailer. He said there are 16 trailers that rotate through various location throughout the county. The Richland County Solid Waste Management website has a list of where trailers are located.

“You could also drop them (Christmas trees) off at Cairns Road,” Bender said.

Richland County Yard Waste Facility, closed for the season, is next door to 4-H Auto Salvage on Cairns Road. Residents are encouraged to leave their Christmas trees at the gate.

Alternative tree disposal

According to Pam Striker of Iberia, pine needles are good for goats’ digestion. Last year, she searched for Christmas trees on Facebook.

Striker’s message read: “If anyone is looking to get rid of their live X-mas trees (Galion), we would love to get 2 of them for our goats. They can not have any tinsel or the like on them, or been sprayed with paint, etc……just need the good old fashion pine tree! Thank you and you can private message me…… Merry Christmas!”

So if you have goats …